Tiger’s resurgence makes this 2013 Masters special

Published: Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 5:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 5:33 p.m.

It has been a while since the Sarasota-Bradenton area has had a player competing in the Masters, but that doesn’t dampen the interest of local golf pros, superintendents or just the average fan.

It has been written that the Masters is the most difficult ticket in sports to obtain. You either have to hit the lottery, know someone rich and famous or know a member of Augusta National. Or, if your name is Paul Azinger, you earn your way as an analyst for ESPN.

Sara Bay General Manger Paul Barone is none of the above, and he has been attending the Masters for 21 consecutive years. He was there when Tiger Woods played as an amateur and he witnessed Tiger’s record-setting first Masters title in 1997. Barone is a Class A PGA member, and Augusta National honors all PGA pros or superintendents with a Class A card.

Getting a Class A card isn’t easy. It takes years of hard work, and you have to be able to pass written and playing tests.

All Class A card holders can present their cards and photo identifications at the gate each day and Augusta National issues them a daily badge at no charge. Selling that badge can result in a lifetime ban at the Masters.

Starting today, at least seven area pros will be sharing a house near Augusta National. Some like Robbie McCoy (Golf in Venice) and Jack McFaul (Waterford) will make the trek to Augusta, Ga., for the practice rounds, and later this week, Barone, Daren King (Sara Bay), Charlie Darbyshire (Sarasota National), Jack Binswanger (Village Green Sarasota) and Gavin Darbyshire (Jacaranda) will attend.

The first major of the year begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. The field of 93 includes 49 international players representing 20 countries.

The area pros rent a house for eight nights at an average of about $85 per person per night. “It beats paying $300 per night at a Days Inn,” said Barone.

Last year, Binswanger put his name in the lottery and requested four tickets. He got them and wives of the club pros enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of attending the Masters.

The superintendents and club pros have different priorities at the Masters.

The grass cutters get up early and head to the course to watch how their Augusta counterparts prepare the course for the day with a platoon of state-of-the-art mowers. Not a blade of grass is left unattended.

The pros hope to garner a swing tip to pass on.

The supers are seeking a better idea on how to manicure their courses.

Basically, it is a continuing education vacation at its finest for all groups.

Barone and his fellow pros enjoy watching the play. They will walk the course and then return to the rental house to watch it on television.

Of course, they take advantage of the $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches and $2 beers.

It is a tough life but these guys have paid their dues, especially after this winter where they were overwhelmed and overworked with a near-record number of rounds at their respective courses.

“Eight hours of walking up and down those hills is enough,” said Barone. “Television doesn’t do it justice. You don’t see how hilly it is.”

As good as these local pros have it this week, they will take a back seat to Bradenton’s Azinger, who will be covering the Masters on Thursday and Friday for ESPN.

Is Tiger back? That’s what the media and sports fans want to know.

“Let’s face it, no one on the face of the earth has ever putted like Tiger Woods putts, especially under pressure,” Azinger said on a conference call this week. “Now that he’s putting good again, he can finish dead last in fairways hit at Bay Hill and win.”

“Tiger feels pressure like everyone else. He just deals with it better. Are you all the way back? And so that’s why I’m anticipating this Masters as much as anyone I’ve ever watched, to see how he deals with it.”

With three victories this year and a No. 1 world ranking, Woods is the odds-on favorite to win his fifth green jacket and 15th major.

But the favorite has not won since 2005 when Woods last won. And he hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.

Tiger’s personal bumps on the road in the chase of Jack Nicklaus’s record have overshadowed his greatness.

Is Tiger back?

Whether you are in the catbird’s seat at Augusta National or in a recliner in the comfort of your own home, we shall soon find out. Thursday and Friday on ESPN and Saturday and Sunday on CBS.

Does it get any better than this in sports? And we don’t need a badge to watch it.

<p>It has been a while since the Sarasota-Bradenton area has had a player competing in the Masters, but that doesn't dampen the interest of local golf pros, superintendents or just the average fan.</p><p>It has been written that the Masters is the most difficult ticket in sports to obtain. You either have to hit the lottery, know someone rich and famous or know a member of Augusta National. Or, if your name is Paul Azinger, you earn your way as an analyst for ESPN.</p><p>Sara Bay General Manger Paul Barone is none of the above, and he has been attending the Masters for 21 consecutive years. He was there when Tiger Woods played as an amateur and he witnessed Tiger's record-setting first Masters title in 1997. Barone is a Class A PGA member, and Augusta National honors all PGA pros or superintendents with a Class A card.</p><p>Getting a Class A card isn't easy. It takes years of hard work, and you have to be able to pass written and playing tests.</p><p>All Class A card holders can present their cards and photo identifications at the gate each day and Augusta National issues them a daily badge at no charge. Selling that badge can result in a lifetime ban at the Masters.</p><p>Starting today, at least seven area pros will be sharing a house near Augusta National. Some like Robbie McCoy (Golf in Venice) and Jack McFaul (Waterford) will make the trek to Augusta, Ga., for the practice rounds, and later this week, Barone, Daren King (Sara Bay), Charlie Darbyshire (Sarasota National), Jack Binswanger (Village Green Sarasota) and Gavin Darbyshire (Jacaranda) will attend.</p><p>The first major of the year begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. The field of 93 includes 49 international players representing 20 countries.</p><p>The area pros rent a house for eight nights at an average of about $85 per person per night. “It beats paying $300 per night at a Days Inn,” said Barone.</p><p>Last year, Binswanger put his name in the lottery and requested four tickets. He got them and wives of the club pros enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of attending the Masters.</p><p>The superintendents and club pros have different priorities at the Masters.</p><p>The grass cutters get up early and head to the course to watch how their Augusta counterparts prepare the course for the day with a platoon of state-of-the-art mowers. Not a blade of grass is left unattended.</p><p>The pros hope to garner a swing tip to pass on.</p><p>The supers are seeking a better idea on how to manicure their courses.</p><p>Basically, it is a continuing education vacation at its finest for all groups.</p><p>Barone and his fellow pros enjoy watching the play. They will walk the course and then return to the rental house to watch it on television.</p><p>Of course, they take advantage of the $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches and $2 beers.</p><p>It is a tough life but these guys have paid their dues, especially after this winter where they were overwhelmed and overworked with a near-record number of rounds at their respective courses.</p><p>“Eight hours of walking up and down those hills is enough,” said Barone. “Television doesn't do it justice. You don't see how hilly it is.”</p><p>As good as these local pros have it this week, they will take a back seat to Bradenton's Azinger, who will be covering the Masters on Thursday and Friday for ESPN.</p><p>Is Tiger back? That's what the media and sports fans want to know.</p><p>“Let's face it, no one on the face of the earth has ever putted like Tiger Woods putts, especially under pressure,” Azinger said on a conference call this week. “Now that he's putting good again, he can finish dead last in fairways hit at Bay Hill and win.”</p><p>“Tiger feels pressure like everyone else. He just deals with it better. Are you all the way back? And so that's why I'm anticipating this Masters as much as anyone I've ever watched, to see how he deals with it.”</p><p>With three victories this year and a No. 1 world ranking, Woods is the odds-on favorite to win his fifth green jacket and 15th major.</p><p>But the favorite has not won since 2005 when Woods last won. And he hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.</p><p>Tiger's personal bumps on the road in the chase of Jack Nicklaus's record have overshadowed his greatness.</p><p>Is Tiger back?</p><p>Whether you are in the catbird's seat at Augusta National or in a recliner in the comfort of your own home, we shall soon find out. Thursday and Friday on ESPN and Saturday and Sunday on CBS.</p><p>Does it get any better than this in sports? And we don't need a badge to watch it.</p>